How can TSSAA justify NOT HAVING 4 CLASSES in Softball?

[BushLeague]

Earlier this year, TSSAA voted against going to 4 classes in Boys & Girls Basketball, Baseball, Softball.  They released the classification for 2017-2021 today.  TSSAA classification plan makes no sense whatsoever and is completely unfair.  There are a number of schools that the TSSAA slotted to compete in 4A Football (1102-827 enrollment), but AAA (largest class) in Basketball, Baseball, Softball (2513-1033 enrollment).  So, their Football team will compete for state titles against schools with as few as 827 enrolled students; while their Basketball, Baseball, and Softball squads will have to compete with schools as large as 2513 enrollment!!! 

 

It gets worse ... these same schools that are AAA in Basketball/Baseball/Softball and 4A in Football - are 2A in Volleyball and Soccer!!!  The AA Soccer enrollment numbers are as low as 668 and the AA Volleyball numbers are as low as 583!  To recap, these schools play schools with an enrollment as large as 2513 in Basketball/Baseball/Softball, but as low as 827 in Football; 668 in Soccer; and 583 in Volleyball!!! 

 

How does that make sense?  Whatever happened to playing in a league against other schools of similar size and geographical proximity in all sports?  Why does the TSSAA have 6 classes in Football, but only 3 classes in Softball, etc? 

 

The following schools should be LIVID: Seymour (1102), Portland (1089), Liberty Tech (1083), Lawrence County (1082), Springfield (1081), Montgomery Central (1077), Kirby (1067), Stone Memorial (1061), Anderson County (1060), Spring Hill (1053), Tullahoma (1042), East Hamilton (1038) and Sequoyah (1033). 

 

If any of these schools advances in the AAA Region, Sectional, State Tournament rounds in Basketball, they will potentially do so by playing opponents that are MORE THAN TWICE THEIR SIZE!!!!!!!!!!!!  In many cases, they have to do this to get out of their own District!!!  For example: Stone Memorial's 1061 has to defeat Cookeville's 2203 to advance from their own District!!! 

 

TSSAA spent a lot of time considering the Division II changes and made sure Football kept their 6 classifications.  Class A schools pushed for the changes that made the majority of private schools to depart Division 1 for Division II.  Now, the large schools are stuck to play the MEGA-SCHOOLS.  But, I'm scratching my head why Softball couldn't have 4 classes to make for competitive balance? 

 

TSSAA - you can fix this for Softball - add a 4th class and keep the MEGA-SCHOOLS separate from schools that are LESS THAN HALF their size!

[Hoganknows]

Welcome to the TSSAA where only $$$$ matters

[BushLeague]

Welcome to the TSSAA where only $$$$ matters

So, everybody says that ... and has for a long, long time.  But ... what are softball folks going to do about it? 

 

The main reason for so many schools moving to Division 2 was: A and AA schools complained loud enough ... for long enough ... and the TSSAA changed the financial aid component to essentially drive those private schools into Division 2.  But ... did those A and AA schools ever have to compete against a school that was more than twice their size?  Was there ever a Single A school with an enrollment of say, 300 ... play against an enrollment of 1800?  That's exactly what is going on in AAA!  There are large schools with 1000 students and then there are MEGA-SCHOOLS with 2000 plus!

 

There is no reason - other than $ - that TSSAA can justify allowing schools to compete against schools with more than double their enrollment!

[Hoganknows]

You have a great compliant! heck, football has 9 classifications now...only other state that has that many is Texas. Football is the exact opposite of softball.

 

Heck, I ask the TSSAA one time why the Region Runner Up in Softball didn't get a plague like Girls Basketball Region Runner Up does. Their answer....that's the way we always have done it. Sad just sad

[catsbackr]

Welcome to the TSSAA where only $$$$ matters

That statement, as far as this topic goes, doesn't make any sense.

 

If your statement were true, the TSSAA would want more classifications.  Try some other reason.

[Hoganknows]

That statement, as far as this topic goes, doesn't make any sense.

 

If your statement were true, the TSSAA would want more classifications.  Try some other reason.

They don't care about doing what is right...just $$$$....how is that for ya catcrap.

[Antwan]

Earlier this year, TSSAA voted against going to 4 classes in Boys & Girls Basketball, Baseball, Softball.  They released the classification for 2017-2021 today.  TSSAA classification plan makes no sense whatsoever and is completely unfair.  There are a number of schools that the TSSAA slotted to compete in 4A Football (1102-827 enrollment), but AAA (largest class) in Basketball, Baseball, Softball (2513-1033 enrollment).  So, their Football team will compete for state titles against schools with as few as 827 enrolled students; while their Basketball, Baseball, and Softball squads will have to compete with schools as large as 2513 enrollment!!! 

 

It gets worse ... these same schools that are AAA in Basketball/Baseball/Softball and 4A in Football - are 2A in Volleyball and Soccer!!!  The AA Soccer enrollment numbers are as low as 668 and the AA Volleyball numbers are as low as 583!  To recap, these schools play schools with an enrollment as large as 2513 in Basketball/Baseball/Softball, but as low as 827 in Football; 668 in Soccer; and 583 in Volleyball!!! 

 

How does that make sense?  Whatever happened to playing in a league against other schools of similar size and geographical proximity in all sports?  Why does the TSSAA have 6 classes in Football, but only 3 classes in Softball, etc? 

 

The following schools should be LIVID: Seymour (1102), Portland (1089), Liberty Tech (1083), Lawrence County (1082), Springfield (1081), Montgomery Central (1077), Kirby (1067), Stone Memorial (1061), Anderson County (1060), Spring Hill (1053), Tullahoma (1042), East Hamilton (1038) and Sequoyah (1033). 

 

If any of these schools advances in the AAA Region, Sectional, State Tournament rounds in Basketball, they will potentially do so by playing opponents that are MORE THAN TWICE THEIR SIZE!!!!!!!!!!!!  In many cases, they have to do this to get out of their own District!!!  For example: Stone Memorial's 1061 has to defeat Cookeville's 2203 to advance from their own District!!! 

 

TSSAA spent a lot of time considering the Division II changes and made sure Football kept their 6 classifications.  Class A schools pushed for the changes that made the majority of private schools to depart Division 1 for Division II.  Now, the large schools are stuck to play the MEGA-SCHOOLS.  But, I'm scratching my head why Softball couldn't have 4 classes to make for competitive balance? 

 

TSSAA - you can fix this for Softball - add a 4th class and keep the MEGA-SCHOOLS separate from schools that are LESS THAN HALF their size!

There will be several schools in A & AA competing with schools twice their size also. The bigger the schools...the less it matters.

[catsbackr]

They don't care about doing what is right...just $$$$....how is that for ya catcrap.

Your reasoning still doesn't make any sense.  And, you can't come up with another intelligent reason, so I guess you really don't know either.  I guess Hoganknows...squat!

[CoachT]

4 classes for softball based on equal number of schools per class:

 

Class A 164-480

 

Class AA 484-682

 

Class AAA 693-1184

 

Class AAAA 1190-2513

 

You would make some schools happy while those at the cutoff points would still be unhappy.

[Hoganknows]

4 classes for softball based on equal number of schools per class:

 

Class A 164-480

 

Class AA 484-682

 

Class AAA 693-1184

 

Class AAAA 1190-2513

 

You would make some schools happy while those at the cutoff points would still be unhappy.

Would be a good move by the TSSAA...but won't happen

[PIONEERS12]

Play or stay home.